The Place: Come, eat, and stay a while,New Cucos

CAFÉ
BARBIERI:
A
114-YEAR-OLD
IN LAVAPIÉS
ART
NOVEAU
CAFÉ
Café Barbieri first brought modernist charm to Madrid’s working class
district, Lavapiés, in 1902, and although the barrio has evolved dramatically
over the last 114 years, the interior of this elegant bar hasn’t changed one
bit.
Some things have changed though – Café Barbieri is owned by a charismatic
chap from New Delhi and staffed with bilingual youngthings. It also now has a
small terrace, but this is not why you’d come here – its appeal is truly the
interior.
The whole place is lined with mirrors which back then were a symbol of
wealth. These mirrors are now aging well, stained a smoky bronze colour with
dots of grey rust creeping in from the edges. The ceiling is framed with
grids of ornate girders that are connected to decorative cast-iron beams,
typical of older buildings in Lavapiés. Although never on, there are ceiling
fans too – something increasingly rare in Madrid.
At the back of the bar is a grand piano on a small raised stage. Almost every
evening there’s a live music session often featuring the piano, and this
place does food too – typical Spanish stuff but with an edge.
The worn white marble table tops and red velvet seating lining the dining
area mark this place out as opulent, but that’s really not the vibe – it’s
chilled and cosy and attracts a spectrum of people, from the intrepid tourist
who’s braved it down the hill, to the unassuming local who fancies a read of
one of the papers on offer.
Café Barbieri by day
Café Barbieri’s beautiful ornate ceiling
The grand piano taking centre stage, and look at all those beautiful mirrors
Look at that original tiled floor!
The bar has a great selection of spirits & vermouth on tap
Café Barbieri by night
Café Barbieri is also on the same street as the Greek foodie place, Egeo, so
there you have it, your night is planned!
Info
C/Ave María 45
Metro: Lavapiés
Website Facebook
1862
DRY
BAR,
STAGGERINGLY CHIC
CALLE PEZ
COCKTAIL
BAR
ON
They say that Madrid has more bars per square mile than any other Spanish
city (some even go as far as to boast, in Europe). Whilst I’m not sure of the
exact bar tally, not that I’m all that concerned, what I do know is that you
only need to step foot out of your house to see that Madrid is certainly not
lacking in places to get a drink. If there’s one thing that Spaniards enjoy
(aside from the stereotypical siesta) it’s a tipple or two.
However, bars in Madrid tend to generally fall into one of two distinct
camps; the ones with the unmissable glow of strip lighting and scattered
napkins, that generally tend to be frequented by a more aging population. And
those that cater to fans of an exposed brick interior, shabby chic furniture
and a drink served in a jam jar. This is what makes 1862 Dry Bar so unique.
It falls into neither category and I’m all the more pleased for it. A
staggeringly chic cocktail bar perched on the perennially popular Calle Pez,
it may look discreet from the roadside, but upon stepping inside, you could
quite easily be transported into the prohibition-era bars that are more
likely to be found stateside, than in Spain.
The affable owner, Alberto, is a fountain of knowledge on the cocktail front,
in other words, what he doesn’t know about all things shaken or stirred isn’t
worth knowing. The building (an old hardware store I believe) manages to
effortlessly straddle being airy and cosy simultaneously. The downstairs is
particularly sumptuous, with plenty of nooks for a clandestine date or an
intimate chat, whilst sipping on your expertly made pisco sour.
What I
particularly loved about 1862 Dry Bar, was the clearly knowledgeable and
creative bar staff. The menu has all the classics in place, but also offers
up some truly unique cocktails made by guest mixologists ranging from Trailer
Happiness (hailing from Hoxton), with another one being from The Ritz Madrid.
The furniture, the staff and ultimately the delectable drinks, make Dry Bar
1862 the perfect watering hole for a date night or a glamorous venue for a
gaggle of friends. The cocktails are potent and pack a punch, however, the
jewel in the crown is Alberto, whose passion for a decent drink prevails in a
city that is often lacking.
Info
Facebook
Address: Calle del Pez, 27
Metro: Noviciado
Phone: 609 53 11 51
THE
PLACE:
COME,
EAT,
AND
STAY
A
WHILE
Eduardo opened The Place for the reason we all hope anyone would open a
restaurant: he wants you to come over and try his food.
His finely tuned menu is the result of years of travelling around the world.
Every dish we tried transported us to a different place, but every ingredient
used is home-grown in and around Madrid.
This is reason enough to make The Place “the place to be”, but while we were
there, other punters didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. They came for a
coffee, suddenly had a cheese/meat platter in front of them, then dinner, and
before they knew it, were holding a Caipirinha. Folks were getting totally
carried away, confirming that The Place is also a pretty nice place to hang
out.
You can come to The Place for any reason (food, cocktails, wifi), but we were
here for dinner, and as you do here in Spain, we decided to share everything.
The Asian-style Waka-Mola Salad with a guacamole and soy-sauce dressing is
how I shall make salad from now on. The tabbouleh told tales of the Middle
East, and the French-style quiche was packed full of Mediterranean
vegetables. The subtle spices in Eduardo’s pumpkin soup momentarily
transported me to India before I was hoisted north to Iceland with the Viking
Veggie toasted goats’ cheese sandwich, and back to earth with a rustic baked
ricotta cheesecake.
As you can see, Eduardo has a bit of a thing for cutlery. The hallmarks on
each handle tell a story, and if you look closely, you’ll find pieces from
all corners of Europe, which is exactly where he picked them up. My teaspoon
was made in Sheffield between 1900 and 1940! If you’re into cutlery too,
you’ll find a haul of Spanish gems in the Rastro every Sunday.
There’s also an unusually good selection of artisanal beers – blond Czech
lager and Cibeles Imperial IPA are on tap – and several bottled beers. You’ve
also got plenty of local wines to choose from, plus an extensive cocktail and
spirits menu.
The front of the restaurant has a large solid-wood table, ideal for either
groups or MacBooking soloists, and when summer eventually arrives, the wallto-wall windows will be flung open. Even better is the snug through the back
where the seating is comfy and cosy and stylishly un-matching. If you can,
nab the sofa next to the wood-burning fireplace and upright piano and have a
jangle on it if you graduated beyond Chopsticks.
Info
Web & Facebook
Address: Calle del Noviciado 16
Metro: Noviciado & Plaza España
NEW
CUCOS,
A
FAMILY-STYLE RESTAURANT
SORIA
IN
ARTURO
Sometimes when I go out to have lunch or dinner I can’t help but think that
an important part of customer service is missing. So when I had dinner at New
Cucos with my friend, when we went outside afterwards, we could only say how
well we were treated and what a wonderful dinner we had.
New Cucos is a family-style restaurant in the neighborhood of Arturo Soria.
This closeness and warmth can be seen in the way Juan (the owner) treats
everyone who works there, as well as all the customers who are having dinner
or lunch.
The restaurant is located on the quiet street of Arturo Soria. It is a large
space with a perfect covered terrace for more intimate dinners or larger
celebrations. The terrace provides a very cozy place where you can talk
quietly without being bothered by the next table, and then there’s also a
smaller and equally cozy interior. The first day we decided to sit in inside,
as Real Madrid was playing and we wanted to see the match. The second day we
sat in the covered terrace, great decision.
The Food
New Cucos has a simple and traditional menu with very good quality
ingredients. The portions are generous, in fact, the most popular dishes on
the menu are large sharing platters; these can be great among a group of
friends, or even just for two.
First we went for the warm burrata salad with cherry tomatoes. It was simply
delicious. Great quality, never tried the burrata and I have to say I totally
loved it.
Burrata Salad
Then we decided to try the spring rolls with vegetables and prawns – a highly
recommended and delicious dish as well.
Spring rolls
By the time we had to eat our third dish, we were already full, but how can
you say no to a plate of ravioli? These were filled with pumpkin and cheese
sauce – simply spectacular and very rich. In fact the second time we went we
couldn’t help but order them again.
Ravioli
The second day we also ordered a delicious mixed salad. For me, nothing beats
a well-prepared mixed salad.
Salad
As for the rest of the menu, in addition to the dishes to share, they have a
small selection of fish and meat dishes. I have to say the South African
ostrich burger looks delicious.
Prices are very reasonable. The first day we had three dishes, three glasses
of wine and two beers for 47 euros. The second day our bill came out to 33
euros.
I’d also like to highlight once again that we received fantastic service both
times we went; the staff was attentive, asking if everything was fine, and
very importantly, without putting any pressure on us to leave. That sort of
thing is very noticeable and makes your dinner even better.
Nothing else to add, New Cucos points out on Twitter: “eat and drink in an
oasis” And I couldn’t agree more.
So, “Mucha mierda” (or “break a leg”) to Juan and the rest of his family. I’m
sure we’ll see each other again soon!
Info
Where: Calle Arturo Soria 84
Metro: Arturo Soria
Tf: 913774039
Twitter
Monday to saturday 11 to 1.
FORASTEROS,
A
MADRID-BASED SWING,
AND FOLK BAND
GYPSY-JAZZ
As a hub for artists and creative are types from all over the world, Madrid’s
local live-music scene is energetic and diverse. As always, your friends at
Naked Madrid are here to provide you with the best options as how to maximize
the potential of your nights out. The first local musicians to be featured in
this series are the swing, gypsy-jazz, folk group Forasteros.
They have an interesting backstory because their members had all met by
chance. The band was formed when its founder, lyricist and guitarist, Tom
Buzz Cox from London, crossed paths with Tara during a Vaughan System teacher
training course. Swing instructor Julia Hampson, also from London, was
brought onboard as the violinist after an encounter busking the streets in
Lavapies.
Tom recruited Hinata Myojin, a bassist from Japan, through another band in
the community. Clarinettist Ricardo Vasquez from Texas/Mexico was discovered
upon his response to an advertisement. They are unclear on how drummer
Fernando Iglesias from Madrid entered the fold, strongly implying that he
materialized out of thin air.
They write in Spanish, English, French and even Japanese. Ricardo and Julia
have a classical background and are well-versed in swing and Jazz. Overall
the group combines aspects of gypsy-jazz, folk and swing while also being
open to anything that takes their fancy: twisted Latin rhythms, funk, DnB
hints.
Their ambition is to make people laugh, dance and feel while also “talking
about difficult shit.” says Tara Lowe, their singer and lyricist, who I have
known for the greater part of the year as two of my close friends were her
flatmates. Lowe, a long-term expat from Cardiff enjoys writing songs about
everyday life that are “cheeky, honest and indulgent.”
Forasteros’ songs have addressed some of the more relatable aspects of living
in Madrid with their songs “Landlord from Hell, title self-explanatory, as
well as “Banks of June” which focuses on lust and broken hearts. Their track
“Springtime Shuffle” centers on opportune new beginnings while “Cuando” is
just about dancing.
Forasteros performs a lot in Lavapies in the venues of Gato Verde, Taberna
Alabanda, La Tortuga, La Tabacalera and Centro de Creacion y Investigation.
Their First EP, “Hello you!” was recorded at The Treehouse Madrid Studios on
the label of Vestizo Azul Records. It is available free on Bandcamp. Check
out their video of “Devil in the Trees” from their new EP.
Info
Follow them on Facebook & their Bandcamp page and be sure to see them perform
live! Their EP Hello You launches on the 12th November at Intruso Bar – with
supporting artist Taiacore. Tickets can be purchased at Giglon. The first 50
people to arrive will get a free EP and poster.
GIN
O'CLOCK
—
TIME
TO ENJOY
G&T'S
MADRID'S
FINEST
In my youth (to be said in granny-esque tones) I had many love affairs, with
many different tipples. You name it; I’d tried it (and more than likely I
would have had the hangover to show for it). Malibu and Pineapple, Archers
and Lemonade, Amaretto and Coke followed by a brief dalliance with Vodka and
Cranberry. They’d all been enjoyed (or endured) until I finally met my drink
soulmate; the G&T.
Being a Brit, it’s fair to say that they’d had always been on my radar, but
upon moving to Madrid my unabashed obsession with them reached fever pitch.
Clearly encouraged by the sheer abundance of gin bars that positively litter
the calles of pretty much every barrio. To this end I’m going to share my gin
aficionado tips on where to grab the best G’Vine in the city.
La Prudencia
Situated on one of my favourite streets in Madrid, this small but perfectly
formed bar is ideal for a romantic rendezvous due to its gorgeous low
lighting and shabby chic decor, as well as being the perfect place for a few
pre-club copas. It was here where I first sampled a Brockman’s gin (one of my
current faves in case you’re curious) but should you fancy a gin that’s
served exactly as it should be then put La Prudencia on your list. The bar is
piled high with fruits, herbs and even rose petals which the expert bar staff
use with flair. They explain why certain flavour combinations have been
matched and don’t make you feel like a numpty for asking. Most gins start at
around 10 euros which (given that they’re the size of your head) is in my
opinion, money well spent.
Facebook
Where: Calle del Espíritu Santo, 41
Phone: 915 22 30 97
Metro: Noviciado or Tribunal
The Gin Room
Now here’s a bar that is slightly out of my comfort zone (and by that I mean
it’s not in Malasaña) but if you’re looking for reason to get out of your
skinny jeans and into an LBD whilst sipping on a gin, this place is it.
Extremely slick and stylish, The Gin Room has a gin list quite literally as
long as my arm. Whilst the atmosphere there was slightly lacking on my last
trip, the gins certainly packed a punch. By default I always tend to revert
back to G’Vine (it’s French and fabulous). Here it came served with grapes
which complimented the delicate floral flavour of G’Vine perfectly. Before
the night was through I’d managed to blitz about 70 euros on six gins (not
all for me might I add) so this is definitely not the place to visit when
there’s too much month left at the end of your money. Saying that, as a
payday treat it’s a great place to enjoy a glamorous gin o’clock.
Facebook
Where: Calle de la Academia, 7
Phone: 699 75 59 88
Metro: Atocha or Banco de España
Shuzo’s
Shuzo, Shuzo, Shuzo, it almost pains me to share this hidden gem for fear
that I’ll never be able to perch on a bar stool there again. First things
first, it is tiny (we’re talking the size of a wardrobe) and secondly the
array of gins that they stock is a gin lovers delight – I think I genuinely
clapped and whooped on arrival, admittedly it doesn’t take much! This bar has
the old classics such as Hendricks, Bombay and the like as well, as some very
quirky brands such as Monkey 47, an unusual (yet potent) gin hailing from the
Black Forest in Germany. The atmosphere here is laid back but rest assured
you definitely feel as though you are ‘someone in the know’ upon entering
into this wee Aladdin’s cave.
Facebook
Where: Calle de Jorge Juan, 52
Phone: 914 35 91 71
Metro: Príncipe de Vergara
So folks, there’s three to get you started and remember — it’s always gin
o’clock somewhere in the world…so bottoms up!
Looking for more on Madrid’s best cocktail bars? Check out:
1862 Dry Bar — perfection served in a glass!
Madrid’s best cocktail bars — Martinis, Cosmopolitans and more…
1862
DRY
BAR
-
PERFECTION
SERVED
IN
A
GLASS
Looking for a perfectly crafted cocktail? Do you prefer the classics, or
something a little more adventurous? No matter your taste, there is a spot
for you at 1862 Dry Bar, located in the heart of Malasaña.
If you need structure, snag a table on the street level, with tables
peppering the perimeter of the room, and the bar as the center of attention.
For those looking to lounge and drop into a comfortable sofa, head to the
dimly lit basement, and find yourself losing all concept of time.
The cocktail menu is comprehensive – running the gamut from Old Fashioned to
Cosmopolitan; you name it, they serve it. Don’t miss out on the
house specials on the backside of the menu, with intricate mixes that you
didn’t know you wanted until you saw it on the menu.
If you are indecisive like I tend to be, simply ask for a recommendation-the
service is friendly and can help you craft your drink based on your likes and
dislikes without a second thought. Each careful creation is fairly priced at
8€.
The basement displays quite literally a cage of alcohol, decoratively
illuminated in case you still aren’t sure what you’re in the mood for.
If you are able to climb out of your comfortable seat on the couch, look
beyond the curved archway in the basement that gives way to a smaller bar
counter, with old fashioned photos, exposed brick walls, and hanging
stemware.
1862 Dry Bar has all you could ask for-aesthetic appeal in a comfortable
setting, affable, knowledgeable employees, and expertly crafted
cocktails. But don’t take my word for it-start tasting your way through the
menu and decide for yourself if you’re more of the traditional type, or if
you can handle something a little different.
Facebook
Web
Where: Calle del Pez, 27
Metro: Noviciado
Looking for more on Madrid’s bar scene? Check out:
Madrid’s Best Cocktail Bars
Madrid’s Best Craft Beer Bars
Madrid’s Best Rooftop Bars